Foundation Program

Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

We will begin studying Joyful Path to Good Fortune, the Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment on January 20

Buddha demonstrated how to follow a path of inner transformation that leads to the complete eradication of all traces of negativity and confusion from the mind and the attainment of sublime qualities such as universal compassion and wisdom realizing the true nature of all phenomena.

During his life he gave many teachings revealing the practices that lead to this realization of enlightenment. Later, the great Indian Pandit Atisha arranged all these teachings in the order in which they are to be practiced. This special arrangement became known as the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, or Lamrim.

In Joyful Path of Good Fortune, Geshe Kelsang provides a systematic, step-by-step commentary to these teachings rendering them completely accessible to the modern reader.

Interested? Students wishing to join FP may attend a class before registering. Simpy show up to a class.

The purpose of the Foundation Program is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.

Five Subjects

The program comprises the following five subjects, based on Buddha’s Sutra teachings and the corresponding commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:

The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune

Training the Mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness

The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom

Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold

Types of Mind, based on the commentary Understanding the Mind

Benefits of the Foundation Program

The benefits of studying and practicing these texts are as follows:

Joyful Path of Good Fortune – we gain the ability to put all Buddha’s teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment. From a practical point of view, the Stages of the Path is the main body of Buddha’s teachings, and the other teachings are like its limbs.

Heart of Wisdom – we gain a realization of the ultimate nature of reality. By gaining this realization we can eliminate the ignorance of self-grasping, which is the root of all our suffering.

Meaningful to Behold – we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva’s way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.

Understanding the Mind – we understand the relationship between our mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind, we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually we shall gain the ability to control our mind and in this way solve all our problems.

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Buddhism General Program Class with David Shea Sunday Mornings, 10:30am – 11:45am @BKBC Buddha’s teachings helps us to understand that we have potential to solve all of our human problems and perfect all[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

Universal Compassion General Program Class with Rod Hobson Tuesday Evenings, 6:30pm – 7:45pm @BKBC Developing the mind of compassion is the supreme method to purify our mind. It is also the foundation for all spiritual realizations. [...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

Foundation Program Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 8:00pm We will begin studying Joyful Path to Good Fortune, the Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment on January 20 Buddha demonstrated how to follow a path of inner transformation that leads to the[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

Introduction to Buddhism General Program Class with David Shea Sunday Mornings, 10:30am – 11:45am @BKBC Buddha’s teachings helps us to understand that we have potential to solve all of our human problems and perfect all[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

Universal Compassion General Program Class with Rod Hobson Tuesday Evenings, 6:30pm – 7:45pm @BKBC Developing the mind of compassion is the supreme method to purify our mind. It is also the foundation for all spiritual realizations. [...]

This is our daily meditation practice at the center. Everyone is welcome. Just come any morning and we can help you. Heart Jewel is a Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapacombined with the condensed sadhana of his Dharma Protector and[...]

Foundation Program Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 8:00pm We will begin studying Joyful Path to Good Fortune, the Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment on January 20 Buddha demonstrated how to follow a path of inner transformation that leads to the[...]